Can I reglue this vintage compact mirror?
October 11, 2013 1:34 PM Subscribe
I've been buying a few vintage compacts from the 1950s and 1960s on Etsy and eBay. I just received one in the mail whose mirror came completely loose in transit. Luckily it wasn't damaged, but how do I glue it back in safely? Details below.
I often carry a vintage compact in my purse now, and am planning to give some as gifts during the holiday season, so I'd love to make this one usable again. The mirror has beveled edges and is very thin. Clearly it had come unglued before, and someone taped it back in (a LONG time ago) with double-sided tape. Some stiff paper appears to be mounted on the back as well (the gray patterned cardboard is something I laid it on to keep it from contacting my table). Here's a view of the inside lid without the mirror. I'm leery of removing the tape, and definitely will not try and remove the paper, as I'm afraid some of the mirror's silver backing will come with it. Can I just glue the whole dang thing back in again with E-6000 or another glue? Should I try to get some of the tape off (CAREFULLY) first? I want to do it soon, because I feel the mirror is safer mounted in the compact. For now it's wrapped in bubble wrap inside a resealable bag, away from cats and kids. Thanks, hive mind.
I often carry a vintage compact in my purse now, and am planning to give some as gifts during the holiday season, so I'd love to make this one usable again. The mirror has beveled edges and is very thin. Clearly it had come unglued before, and someone taped it back in (a LONG time ago) with double-sided tape. Some stiff paper appears to be mounted on the back as well (the gray patterned cardboard is something I laid it on to keep it from contacting my table). Here's a view of the inside lid without the mirror. I'm leery of removing the tape, and definitely will not try and remove the paper, as I'm afraid some of the mirror's silver backing will come with it. Can I just glue the whole dang thing back in again with E-6000 or another glue? Should I try to get some of the tape off (CAREFULLY) first? I want to do it soon, because I feel the mirror is safer mounted in the compact. For now it's wrapped in bubble wrap inside a resealable bag, away from cats and kids. Thanks, hive mind.
JB Weld will bond glass to metal pretty permanently. It's not pretty, so I'd keep it away from the edges and only use it on the invisible mirror back.
A soak for a few minutes with goo-gone (or even wd-40) may soften the glue residue so that the tape can be scraped off with low pressure. Work in a well-ventiallted area.
posted by bonehead at 1:59 PM on October 11, 2013
A soak for a few minutes with goo-gone (or even wd-40) may soften the glue residue so that the tape can be scraped off with low pressure. Work in a well-ventiallted area.
posted by bonehead at 1:59 PM on October 11, 2013
I see JB makes a transparent epoxy product especially for glass. That might look a lot neater if some squeezes out an edge.
posted by bonehead at 2:04 PM on October 11, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by bonehead at 2:04 PM on October 11, 2013 [2 favorites]
Best answer: In general I like epoxies such as JB Weld, but I think your E-6000 (sounds like you have some on hand) will work just fine if you follow phunniemee's advice. The idea is to remove anything loosely attached that might interfere with the new bond, on both the mirror and the lid, obviously taking care not to damage the mirror. If the tape is on the mirror back such that it won't come off easily, I don't think it will post a problem.
posted by exogenous at 3:32 PM on October 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by exogenous at 3:32 PM on October 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
I second soaking it in goo-gone. After a good soak, you should be able to get most of the residue off using some heavy duty paper towels and very little pressure.
posted by ablazingsaddle at 5:30 PM on October 11, 2013
posted by ablazingsaddle at 5:30 PM on October 11, 2013
Response by poster: Thanks so much for the feedback and suggestions. The mirror glass is very thin and delicate (much thinner than any modern mirror glass) and so is the silvering layer (as far as I can tell), so I'm reluctant to soak it in anything. I'll probably start with phunniemee's suggestion to rub off the tape with a fine grit nail buffer and see how smooth I can get the back. Then I'll probably go with good old E-6000, though I'm interested in JB Weld, too, because I also make glass/metal jewelry (which is why I have the E-6000 on hand). Thanks again, and I'll update with anything interesting that occurs--or, I hope, a good outcome to the restoration attempt.
posted by sister nunchaku of love and mercy at 8:29 PM on October 11, 2013
posted by sister nunchaku of love and mercy at 8:29 PM on October 11, 2013
Response by poster: In the end I did as phunniemee suggested and GENTLY removed what tape I could, then used the E-6000 to glue the mirror back in. It looks perfect again! There was some tape residue on the lid as well, and I used this homemade Goo-Gone type substance to gently remove it from the metal. Thanks again for all your help!
posted by sister nunchaku of love and mercy at 6:56 AM on October 17, 2013
posted by sister nunchaku of love and mercy at 6:56 AM on October 17, 2013
« Older Looking for light pink dress flats for a wedding..... | Tasty no-fridge, no-cook shelf stable meals Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by phunniemee at 1:38 PM on October 11, 2013